Book Review – Glow of the Everflame

An unexpected gift offers the power to change everything. Keeping it could cost Diem her life.
The threat of war has arrived at Diem’s doorstep, along with a new discovery that could save her people. To use it, she must survive the next thirty days by forming a devil’s bargain with the people she hates most: the royal family of House Corbois.
But as she dives into the world of the Descended elite, Diem quickly realizes good and evil aren’t as simple as they seem. Old prejudices are challenged, and new loyalties blur the line between friend and foe.
Meanwhile, her mother is still missing, and the secrets she left behind can no longer be ignored—and neither can the Guardians and their demands. Caught between an old flame and a sizzling new spark, Diem must confront the truth about who she is and what she wants before time runs out.
War is coming, and dangerous enemies wait on all sides.. but the most deadly battle Diem faces may be the one for her heart.
Glow of the Everflame is the second book in The Kindred's Curse Saga, a four-book epic fantasy romance series that follows our fiesty, bad*ss heroine Diem Bellator in her fight against injustice and oppression, her struggle to survive in a royal palace full of betrayal and intrigue, and her journey of self-discovery and finding true love. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers series is perfect for fans of unique magic systems, dragons and other mythical creatures, angst and romantic tension, and hilarious banter. This book will appeal to fans of plot-heavy, character-driven romantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, Gild, Shadow & Bone, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

Julie’s Review:

Bottom Line Up Front: Luther, all the 5 stars. Diem, negative star. Because what do you mean it takes her an entire 20 hour audiobook to accept herself and see what is truly in front of her. 

Let me do this review in messages I sent my book bestie, because this is all about how I felt. These may contain spoilers, so you have been warned.

Ok 4 ish hours into Glow… she really asked her weird mortal boi to be king?? What is she thinking. Well, she’s not thinking

Decision making capacity of my puppy

The audio is well done though. But 15 more hours of her bad decisions?

Oh my God every chapter we learned something new about Luther. He is totally not what he initially seemed.

I would rather read the whole story from his POV

Diem making Luther apologize to Eleanor. It was the funniest thing ever and I love that scene.

Luther continues to be delicious though

Also every time Luther talks I want to kick my feet. Every time Diem talks I just want to kick her.

I have been listening to this book forever and I am only halfway

I have too many books to read why so lengthy

Also I need to keep taking breaks because I want to throttle Diem

Now Taran is begging her to give Luther a chance and she’s yelling at him. Ugh

It’s almost like she has no world experience but all the audacity

***MAJOR SPOILER***

Is Luther really trying to sacrifice himself with this challenge omg

Wtf was that ending???

Umm so need to know what happens

Yea they only get infuriatingly longer from here

Diem has spent the entire book absolutely infuriatingly blind and naiiiiive. No wonder the godhood was fickle with her. I recall Bookstagram saying how many people hate this character, and I didn’t see it in book 1. She behaved how you would expect. But this book? Ouph!

 

I loved her found family with the Corbois besties who immediately supported her. Hated everyone else in House Corbois who treated her like less than. Hated all the other houses. Loved all the attempts at training to control her magic, hated how insufferable Diem was.  Also, Teller, the brother, is my favorite side character! Or is it Eleanor? Oh I don’t know! Maybe Taran. Also glad Henri showed he can’t be relied on because I didn’t want to feel bad for him and I don’t.

 

And Luther. OMG Luther. The things he says and does. The secrets he keeps… about the children. And then the final secret at the end. The way he kneels for her. I want to kneel for him! The way he emotes with just his eyes!

 

The audio narration is superb! Well done! One narrator, hundreds of voices!

 

Penn’s writing is so vivid and immersive. Yes I am pulled in and had all the emotions because of how well she wrote these characters.

.5

Lynn’s Review:

This book had me in all the reactions. It was both amaze (Luther!) and frustrating (Diem). I’m giving it 12 stars minus 4 stars for not having Luther’s POV and minus 3 stars for that whopper of a cliffhanger and the next book being 34 hours long. Let’s break it down:

Writing: Second books are notorious for being bridges to the next book. But not here. I am exceedingly impressed by Penn Cole’s work in this book. She does a great job incorporating a quick recap into the beginning of the novel, which is super helpful. The novel starts right where book 1 ended; I needed some recap to refamiliarize myself with the plot. What stands out to me, though, is my visceral reaction while reading this book. The emotional highs and lows. The frustration with Diem. Diem’s internal debate between the mortals and the descendants. I loved the additional new descendant characters. Even those characters we love to hate. Even the ending with that WTH moment was incredibly executed. My only real complaint is the lack of Luther’s POV. And that’s only a minor complaint at that.  

Ugh Diem: What the heck, Diem! I yelled at her (and my book) multiple times. Very frustrating character making very poor decisions. But also, I get it. She’s 20 years old and has had her entire world upended. She lacks confidence and the knowledge to make good decisions. I don’t know that I would have done any better given those situations. I’m willing to give Diem a chance. She does start to get better by the end. But still. Henry? Really? Luther is right freaking there, and she keeps going back to Henry? That is messed up, girl. 

Romance: The triangle (can we even call it that?) between Henry, Diem, and Luther was my least favorite part of the book. Luther, sure. I’m all for that relationship. Henry? NOPE. The freaking worst. Totally using Diem. Why doesn’t she even see that? Check out our TWHS post if you are still skeptical about Luther!

Loved this one. No notes! I will definitely be continuing on with this series. 

Glow of the Everflame: The Kindred's Curse Saga, Book Two

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